Southern Illinoise University Athletics
Saluki Baseball Team Has High Expectations In 2002
02/01/2002 | 12:00:00 | Baseball
Feb. 1, 2002
Carbondale, Ill. - The words "expectation" and "excitement" surround the Southern Illinois University baseball program in 2002. Head coach Dan Callahan returns starters at all eight positions in the field, has five 2001 pitchers coming back (all started at least two games) and lost just one starter (designated hitter Roman Schooley).
The return of 17 players, in addition to 17 new faces, has Callahan looking for his team to finish much higher than last year's eighth place finish in the Missouri Valley Conference (19-36, 10-21 in MVC) in 2002.
"I think the fact that we return all the starters and position players except Schooley (2nd Team All-MVC designated hitter), who we'll miss, gives us a chance to have a good season this year. We didn't finish where we wanted to last season. I thought we played well enough last year to be in games but not well enough to win the close games," said Callahan.
A short-handed pitching staff, not team defense, was the reason the Salukis lost nine one-run games, including eight in the MVC in 2001. Callahan had new starters at all but one position in the field last year come together to finish second in the MVC in team defense (.961) and double plays (58). That experience is something to build on in 2002 but the improved pitching staff will be the difference.
"Our defense is definitely a strength, and I like the fact that two of our best pitchers (Jake Alley & Luke Nelson) return and we didn't have to recruit them. We didn't get one inning out of either guy in 2001. Alley is back (ineligible last year) and Luke Nelson is healthy (shoulder injury in 2000) and able to pitch again," Callahan added.
"Alley was a closer as a freshman and our #1 as a sophomore and was our #1 after last fall but he couldn't play. Nelson was our closer two years ago. We may have to change how we use Nelson in the field if we want him to be our closer. He also could be a weekend starter or middle reliever who can DH for us or play first. He's very versatile not only on defense but on the mound, as well. We will have to be more careful than we were two years ago when he was our regular shortstop and closer."
Last year's weakness could be a strength with the return of Alley, who pitched 101.1 innings with a 3.73 ERA, 94 strikeouts and three complete games in 2000, while Nelson went 5-1 with a 3.27 ERA, five saves and 22 strikeouts in 22 innings in 2000 and was second-team all-MVC as a utility man.
The Salukis also return senior Jason Westemeir (0-1, 11.20 ERA, 27.1 inns., 20K), junior Ryan Aird (2-5, 6.92 ERA, 40.1 inns., 31 K) and sophomores Jerel Deitering (1-5, 5.43 ERA, 59.2 inns., 35 K), Josh Joiner (0-1, 6.17 ERA, 23.1 inns., 12 K) and Bill Clayton (2-5, 10.07 ERA, 42 inns., 34 K). This group started 25 games and provides Callahan with the experience of 192.2 innings of work in 2001.
SIU adds 10 new pitchers to the program including sophomore transfer Marshall Tucker (East Central (Mo.) C.C.), who may start if healthy and nine freshmen, including P.J. Finigan (Springfield,Ill.,) who may close, along with Eric Haberer (Bloomington, Ill.), Bryan Rueger (Mount Vernon, Ind.), Andrew Weber (Midlothian, Ill.) and Ryan Welch (Brentwood, Tenn.).
"It's an interesting mix. Alley, Nelson, Deitering, Clayton, Westemeir and Aird are all guys that threw quite a few innings the past couple years. We have some of the old and some of the new. We also have nine freshman arms and some of those guys have very good arms. We have five or six young pitchers that will travel to start the year. They proved in the fall that they were talented enough to pitch. How they pitch in the big games or when you start the season we'll see," stated Callahan.
"We also return guys that need to pick up the pace. The returning pitchers at times showed that they were good, solid pitchers that could compete and get guys out. At other times they were very ineffective. When we lost the three pitchers last year due to academics, we were looking for somebody to step up and assume the top three rotation spots and give us some quality innings and unfortunately we didn't find them. When you look back at last year and your closer (Scott Lucht) finishes with the most wins (6), decisions (11) and top ERA (3.14) you probably have some problems. Last year we didn't have anyone step up to pick up the slack."
With 17 pitchers on the roster, Callahan sees the crowded bullpen as an advantage in 2002 that he lacked last season, including the four left-handed pitchers that are new to the staff.
"We have some depth now and some versatility. Last year we had two left-handed pitchers that were among our top four pitchers so we didn't have a lefty in the pen to create left on left matchups and at times you need to be able to do that," stated Callahan.
"The number of pitchers we have creates internal competition. We have some who might start the season as a 9, 10 or 11 guy but who could easily move up. We won't know until we get them in the games. We have Nelson and Finigan who throw in the low 90s and we don't always include them as pitchers since they're out in the field, but they're a solid part of the equation."
While some of the pitching is untested, the infield is deep and solid. All four starters return, led by senior tri-captians Luke Nelson (.307 BA, 7 doubles, 29 RBI, team-high 35 runs and 13 SB) at third base and Jeff Stanek (.239 BA, 10 doubles, 3 HR, 25 RBI, team-high 40 walks) at first base. Each started 53 games in 2001 and are set at the corners. Freshman Carl Heuer (Belleville, Ill.) will get time in a backup role at first base.
Senior Ryan Murray (.226 BA, 6 doubles, 22 RBI), who started 50 games in 2001, is being pushed by freshman P.J. Finigan and senior John Clem (.286 BA) for playing time at shortstop.
At second base, sophomore Greg Andrews (.252 BA, 7 doubles, 24 starts) has a slight edge at the starting job from last year's platoon partner, senior Dane Kerley (.272 BA, 6 doubles, 35 starts). Clem could also see time at second and third, in addition to shortstop. Andrews may also play third when Nelson pitches.
"It's nice knowing you can platoon guys if you have to and if Luke Nelson pitches we don't lose a lot if Clem or Andrews plays third and we move Kerley to second. The bottom line in college baseball is that you have to make routine plays if you're going to be successful and that's our challenge to the guys this year. We have a chance to be a pretty good club on defense. I like our infield defense," Callahan stated.
The Saluki outfield returns all three starters including senior leftfielder Justin Maurath, a second team all-MVC selection, centerfielder Cory Newman and rightfielder Sal Frisella, both juniors.
Maurath is the team's leading returning hitter (.316 BA, 9 doubles, team-leading 3 triples, .493 slugging percentage, 30 RBI, 3 HR) and he brings a .965 fielding percentage. Frisella (.238 BA, 7 doubles, 3 HR) didn't commit one error and had four assists while Newman (.251 BA, team-leading 13 doubles, 20 RBI) added eight assists and a .964 fielding percentage.
"We have depth and in three guys back from last year and we were pretty solid defensively in the outfield last year. Cory Newman is as good defensively as any outfielder in the MVC. He runs well, throws well and gets great jumps on the ball. Frisella has improved dramatically since he came here and had a strong fall with the bat. I like the way Maurath plays the game. He respects the game and nobody plays harder but his elbow is still an issue and playing a full series may be tough," said Callahan.
Sophomore Nick Baughman (.250 BA) suffered a hand injury last year but will be ready for more playing time in 2002 due to his strong hitting in the fall. Junior Ross Kowzan (Southeastern Illinois College) is solid on defense and adds a left handed bat to the mix. Junior Brandon Mells (Memphis, Tenn.) is a former point guard on the Saluki basketball team who is very athletic, he runs and throws well, but hasn't played baseball the last three years.
The catching position will be stronger and much deeper in 2002. Senior Scott Hankey (.290 BA, 8 doubles, 32 RBI) started and played in 54 of 55 games in 2001 and managed a .994 fielding percentage. He will be joined by junior college transfer Toby Barnett (College of Southern Idaho) in a battle for the starting job, which may be shared. Barnett has already developed into a team leader. The third spot will be a battle of freshmen Brett Bakanec (Winthrop Harbor, Ill.), Mike Bertrand (Rockford, Ill.) and Brent Kluxdal (S. Elgin, Ill.)
"Last year what happened to Scott Hankey was unfair. You can divide his season into two halves. He was a better receiver, thrower and hitter the first half of the season. He started 54 games and he wore down. Now he has the help he needs. It wasn't his fault. All we had was a #1 catcher and no one else ready to help. When we lost Andy Cenkush before the season, we lost the #2 catcher to help Hankey carry the load," stated Callahan.
"The competition is healthy and strong at catcher and it's going to help us as a team. Barnett will help Hankey and Hankey will help Barnett. They're both good enough to catch, throw and swing the bat at this level so they'll both play. In a given weekend, they each may catch and DH two games each."
With all the depth and experience on this team, Callahan says the key to a successful season will be the continued strong play of the SIU defense.
"The one solid phase we have is defense. Good teams are strong defensively and we have to continue that trend. If we do, we have a chance to be good," added Callahan.
"We don't have great speed and won't hit a lot of home runs, so we have to execute and play situational baseball. We have to move runners over, bunt, hit and run and handle the bat, and we're athletic enough to do that. We know what to expect this year. We have good arms and five guys who can throw in the 90s which you don't see all the time. We have to take the next step and get people out. We have the experience now."
Speaking of experience, Callahan will count on four-year starters and senior tri-captains Luke Nelson and Jeff Stanek for leadership with all the new faces in the clubhouse.
"We have Stanek, Nelson and guys who have been around four years now with great ability and can work with the younger players. Toby Barnett is also emerging as a true team leader. He has ability, a competitive nature, enthusiasm and his teammates respect and like him. He has the ability to play everyday and he's all business at practice, in the weightroom, or in an intersquad game."
Despite finishing in eighth place in 2001, Callahan says this may be his best team since 1996 (29-26, 18-12 -- 3rd in MVC) and his best recruiting class since the 1995-96 group which sent four players to the pros.
"Our goal is to have the series at the end of the season in Wichita really mean something. From what we saw in the fall, it's our best team since 1996 and our best recruiting class since 1995-96 which featured Jerry Hairston (Baltimore Orioles starting second baseman), Joe Schley, Aaron Jones and Jason Frasor, which was one heck of a group. In fact, they all went on to play pro ball," stated Callahan.
"In 1995 we finished 8th and it was not a fun year and in 1996 I thought we could be strong and we finished third and we were one out from finishing second. It might be asking too much to go from 8th to first or second in one year, but it's something to shoot for and I think it's something to aspire to do. We want that last weekend to really be something meaningful."
